Abrasive scouring powder



Nov. 29, 1949 L. R. BACON ET L ABRASIVE SCOURING POWDER Filed Oct. 10,1947 252 E t E fii 53W flax/Mm NM NM //O. md/ M0 N0 3 WMH HWWH flaw g gA W MVH v n m i INVENTORT Leslie R. Bacon a Thomas H. Vuan BY Mid/rePatented Nov. 29, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ABRASIYE SCOURINGPOWDER Leslie R. Bacon, Wyandotte, and Thomas H.

Vaughn, Grosse Ile, Mich., assignors to Wrandotte Chemicals Corporation,Wyandotte, Mich a corporation of Michigan Application October 10, 1947,serial No. 779.071;

Claims. (Cl. 252-138) The present invention relates to an abrasivescouring powder containing an additive agent for controlling, orinhibiting to a desired maximum extent, the abradant action of theabrasive ingredient. Abrasive scouring powders generally enjoy extensiveapplication and use as household cleansers for securing, cleaning andwashing kitchen utensils, porcelain ware, painted and enameled woodwork,marble and tile surfaces, and the like. The mechanical detergent actiondue to the presence of a water insoluble, relatively hard, finelyground, mineral substance is particularly desired for such detergent,cleaning and washing purposes because of its ability to loosen the moretenaciously adherent soils and dirt. However, in the case of employingsuch abrasive scouring powders on the surface of relatively softermaterials. suchas aluminum pans and utensils. and woodwork. the abrasiveaction must be so controlled or inhibited as to be sufficient to loosenthe soil and dirt. but not so great as to wear away, grind off. orabrade the surface being cleaned.

We have discovered that the addition of sodium carboxym thylcellulose(alternatively termed "sodium cellulose glyeollate or the "sodium saltof cellulose glycollic acid) has the effect of producing such 'anabradant-controlling or -inhibitlng act on. The mineral abrasivesubstances in wh ch this contro ling action has been found effective aresilica flour. tripoli, volcanic ash. feldspar, pumice and pumicite. Suchabrasive ingredents are present in the scouring powder composition inthe amount of at least 70% by weight 1 thereof.

It has been further discovered, as a material component of our inventon, that'the sodium carboxvmethvlcellulose ingredient. should be presentin the critical proportion of 0.3-30.0%;

the group, consisting of alkali metal (preferably sodium) -carbonates,-bicarbonates, -phosphates, -silicates and -borates.

Soap has also been employed in abrasive scouring powder compositions forthe purpose of im-,

parting wetting and sudsing action thereto. We

have found that the basic ingredients of our composition, namely: Theabrasive material and so- All percentages hereinafter given are on theweight dium carboxymethylcellulose, are particularly effective when analkyl aryl sulfonate synthetic wetting and sudsing compound is employedinstead of soap. Sodium alkyl aryl sulfonate,

"whose alkyl and aryl groups are derived from petroleum hydrocarbondistillates boiling in the range of -300 C. and hydrocarbons of thebendene series, respectively, and present in the amount of 2-6%,constitute a synthetic wetting agent or detergent which is especiallysuitable and compatible in the abrasive scouring powder compositions ofour invention. Such sodium alkyl aryl sulfonates are more commonlycommercially available in the sodium sulfate-built form, which consistsof approximately 40% of the sulfonated organic compound and 60% ofNazSO4. It is this type of ingredient which will hereinafter be referredto as being employed in the composition within the scope of ourinvention, unless otherwise noted. Such alkyl aryl suitonate syntheticdetergents are also, and more recently, referred to as sodiumkerylbenzene sulfonate wherein the prefix "keryl" denotes the obviousderivation of the alkyl group from a pctroleum hydrocarbon distillatefraction falling generally in the kerosene boiling point range.

In brief summary of our invention, the basic water insoluble,abradant-inhibited, mineral abrasive ingredient conforms to thefollowing formula:

Per cent Water-insoluble mineral abrasive--- At least 10 Sodiumcarbovymethylcellulose 0.3-10

In commercially suitable formulations, the proportions of theingredients of abrasive scouring powder compositions embodying ourinvention will be found to fall in the following ranges:

Ingredients: Per cent Water insoluble mineral abrasive- At least '70Alkaline salt detergent 1-25 Sodium carboxymethylcellulose 0.5-10

A synthetic wetting or sudsing agent, such as the sodium kerylbenzenesulfonate, mentioned above, can optionally be incorporated into thecomposition in the amount of 245% and in partial substitution for thealkaline salt detergent, in which case the maximum range limit of thelatter will be reduced to 23 The abradant-controlling action imparted bythe 0.3-30.0 content of sodium carboxymethylcellulose also has theadditional advantages which are made manifest to the average user of.the abrasive scouring powder in that the resultant composition has less7 grittiness" and scratchiness" and a smoother feel. The presence of thesodium carboxymethylcellulose also carries the further advantage in thatit acts as a spreading or dispersing agent in a water solution which inturn imparts the property of improved rinsability to the abrasivescouring powder composition when the latter is rinsed with water fromthe surface being cleaned; and thus further prevents the setting-out anddeposition of water-insoluble material in drain pipes.

To the accomplishment of these foregoing and related ends and to enableany .person skilled in the art readily to understand and practice theinvention, the following full and concise description and annexeddrawing set forth the best mode in which we have contemplated applyingthe principle thereof.

The annexed drawing is a chart showing the relationship between theabrading action of the scouring powder embodying the principle of ourinvention on aluminum surfaces to the percentage content of sodiumcarboxymethylcellulose.

- In order to establishan accurate determination of theabradant-controlling action of the sodium carboxymethylcelluloseadditive ingredient, the following test procedure was adopted:

The composition to be tested was first mixed with water in apre-determined ratio to obtain a paste or slurry of standard thicknessor consistency. This was done by weighing 25 grams of the testcomposition into a beaker and titrating with distilled water to astandard consistency. The end point of standard consistency wasdetermined when the crevice formedby a glass rod rapidly drawn through.the slurry or paste closed immediately. A p rtion of the so-preparedpaste or slurry was then placed on a test disk of aluminum mounted uponthe rotating table of an abrasion testing machine known as a TaberAbraser Research Model type No. CS0. The aluminum test disk was composedof 38-0 grade aluminum 4 inches in diameter and 0.030 inch thick. Adoctor blade was mounted across the face of the aluminum test disk inorder to'ccntinuously direct feed of the paste into the path of therubber abrading' wheel. Each sample of test composition was subjected to2000 wear cycles, or-revolutions, on the test disk. The test disk waswashed in soap and water, rinsed in acetone and alcohol, dried at 105 C.and weighed before and *after being subjected to the 2000 wear cycles.The loss in weight of the aluminum test disk in milligrams was thentaken as the measurement of the amount of abrasion. v

se men 1 A basic ingredient formulation, consisting of silica flour (150mesh) and varyingamounts of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (.55-375 d reeof substitution, or mol content of glycollic ac d substituent, perglucose unitof the cellulose, and -20 C. P. S. viscosity in a 2% aqueoussolution at 25 C.) was subjected to such test. A standard consistencypaste or slurry of the .silica flour alone was employed as the control.Plotting the weight loss in milligrams, as evaluated by the abovedescribed test procedure, against the sodium carboxymethylcellulosecontent, the relationship therebetween is shown by the-curve I in thedrawing. The horizontal ordinates of this drawing are based upon alogarithmic scale for the purpose of convenience in representation andprimarily because of the rather sharply occurring changes in the slopeor characteristics of the curve at the sodium carboxymethylcellulosecontent values of 1% and below.

It will be seen from curve I that in the sodium carboxymethyicelluloserange of 0.3-30.0%, the abrasive loss is 24 milligrams or less ascompared to the abrasive weight loss value of 31.4 milligrams for thesilica flour alone. In other words. within this critical range, shown bythe shaded area and labelled Range of low abrasion," the abradant actionis inhibited by the sodimn carboxymethylcellulose to an extent of atlest a one-quarter reduction; and at the optimum content of 2% sodiumcarboxymethylcellulose, the inhibiting action produces a better thanreduction.

Example 2 A second series of similar abrasion tests were conducted uponan abrasive scouring powder formulation, corresponding to a commercialproduct, as follows:

Per Cent Ingredients Weigh b Weight Silica flour (140 mesh) w. 375 93. 5Tetrasodium pyrophosphate- 0. 500 2. 0 Bentonite 0. 175 0. 5 Sodiumkerylbenzene sulionate 1. 000 4.0 25. 000 100.0

by weight Nalsol; this type of "salt-built" sodium kerylbenzenesulionate used throughout the examples hereinafter given.

Sodium carboxymethylcellulose of .55-3'5 degree of substitution and aviscosity of 10-20 C. P. S. (2% solution at 25 C.) was then added to theabove given formulation in amounts va ying from 0-10% by weight on atotal weight basis.

of sodium carboxy'methylcellulose, the abrasion actionreaches'a minimumand then undergoes an increase up to 30%. Curve, 2 thus confirms theresults of curve I, and the Range of low abrasion. The narrower orpreferred sodium carboxymethylcellulose range of 0.5-10.0% hererepresents one which is completely reliable for commercial manufacturingand formulation purposes, since the reduction of abradant action isbetween approximately one-quarter (16.7 milliams weight loss at 0.5%sodium earboxymethylcellulose, 14.3 milligrams weight loss at 10% sodiumcarboxymethylcellulose, as compared to 20.3 milligrams weight 10% withno sodium carboxymethylcellulose present) and approximately onehalf(11.7 milligrams weight loss) at 2% sodium carboxymethylcellulose.

tions are given:

ansases E mp1s 3 7 Ingredients: -.'Per cent by weight Silica flour 93.50Sodium kerylbenzene sulfonate 1.80 Modified soda 3.60 Sodiumcarboxymethylcellulose 0.60 Bentonite 0.50

V 100100 Molecular combination of Nl CO; and NaHCO Example 4Ingredients: Per cent by weight Silica flour 93.50 Tetra-sodiumpyrophosphate 2.00 Sodium kerylbenzene sulfonateu--. 3.64 Sodiumcarboxylmethylcellulose 0.86

Example 5 Ingredients: Per cent by weight Volcanic ash -L 83 Modifiedsoda Sodium kerylbenzene sulfonate 3 Sodium carboxymethylcellulose 2Exempted Ingredients: Per cent by weight Silica flour 94 Sodiumkerylbenzene sulfonate 4' Sodium carboxymethylcellulose 2 Equivalentmodes of practicing our invention may be followed provided that they arewithin the scope and purview of the appended claims.

We, therefore, distinctly claim and particularly point out as ourinvention:

1. A scouring powder composition comprising essentially at least 70% byweight of a relatively hard, finely ground mineral substance selectedfromthe group consisting of silica flour, tripoli, volcanic ash,feldspar, pumice and pumicite,

"1-25% of an alkaline detergent material selected from the groupconsisting of alkali metal carbonates, -bicarbonates, -phosphates,-silicates and -borates, and 05-10% of sodium carboxymethylcellulose.

. 2. A scouring powder composition comprising essentially at least 70%by weight of a relatively hard, finely ground, mineral substanceselected from the group consisting of silica flour, tripoli, volcanicash, feldspan. pumice and pumicite; 1-23% of an alkaline detergentmaterial selected from the group consisting of alkali metal carbonates,-bicarbonates, -phosphates. -silicates -borates; 2-6% of sodium alkylaryl sulfonate whose alkyl and aryl groups are derived from petroleumhydrocarbon distillates' boiling in the range of 150-300" C. andhydrocarbons of the benzene series, respectively, and 05-10% of sodiumcarboxymethylcellulose.

3. A scouring powder composition comprising essentially at least byweight of silica flour, 1-23% of an alkaline detergent material selectedfrom the group consisting of alkali metal carbonates, -bicarbonates,-phosphates, -silicates and -borates; 2-6% of sodium alkyl arylsulfonate whose alkyl and aryl groups are derived from petroleumhydrocarbon distillates boiling in the range of -300 C. and hydrocarbonsof the benzene series, respectively, and 05-10% of sodiumcarboxymethylcellulose having a viscosity of 10-20 C. P. S. and a.55-.75 degree of substitution'.

4. A scouring powder composition comprisin essentially 93.5% by weightof silica flour, 2% tetrasodium pyrophosphate, 4% of sodium alkyl arylsulfonate whose alkyl and aryl groups are derived from petroleumhydrocarbon distillates boiling in the range of 150-300 C. andhydrocarbons of the benzene, series, respectively, 0.5%

of bentonite and 2% of sodium carbomrmethylcellulose having a viscosityof 10-20 C. P. S. and

5. A scouring powder composition comprisin essentially 83% by weight ofvolcanic ash, 12% modified soda, 3% of sodium alkyl aryl sulfonate whosealkyl and aryl groups are derived from petroleum hydrocarbon distillatesboiling in the range of '150-300 C. and hydrocarbons of the benzeneseries, respectively, and 2% of sodium carboxymethylcellulose havingaviscosity of 10-20 C. P. S. and a .55-.'l5 degree of substitution.

LESLIE R. BACON. THOMAS H. VAUGHN.

REFERENCES crrnn The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,060,850 Calcott et al Nov. 17,1936 2,296,690 Soderberg Sept. 22, 1942

